Ice in the Timelime

Chapter 1

My breath came out in clouds in front of me as I waited for the bus to arrive. The morning was chilly this January day in New York City. 

It was only last week, that I was laying on the couch on my computer, when I received a email. It had said that I was invited by a man named, Dr. Ryan Newman, to go to Antarctica to experience a historical find. 

It wasn't very detailed, but I was excited at the mere thought of being part of something like this. This trip would change my life completely. No longer will people scoff when they look at me. The local freak.

No more of that. After this trip, I will come off as a great archaeologist. The greatest! Well, maybe not that because I didn't find it in the first place.

I looked up, when a young man, in a black hoodie started to walk towards the bus station I was at. Wait, why would he need to go to this bus? This route was only going to the airport which  was closed, unless you were going on the trip, due to overflowing paparazzi and winter storms.

Maybe he was just going to walk past. I dismissed the thought when I saw that he was dragging a bulky brown suitcase right behind him. Luckily for him, it had wheels, so it rolled the heavy luggage, easily over the paved sidewalk. 

The man sat down on the bench behind me and set his suitcase right next to him. I turned on my phone to check the time. 10:14 a.m.

The bus should be here by now, I thought. It was supposed to arrive by 10 o'clock. Apparently not, I thought as I finally spotted it rolling down the street. It came to a stop, with a small squeal from the tires. 

The man from behind me got up. I froze when I saw what shape the bus was in. Really, an old, beaten school bus? Seeing as I wasn't moving forward, the man pushed past me and boarded the bus. The driver got up from his seat and peaked his head out of the bus. "Oy! Are you coming or not?" 

Regaining my senses, I slowly boarded the bus and sat behind the driver. The young man sat right across the row from me. He was reading a book with headphones in his ears.

This was going to be a slow trip. The bus started to roll off to the airport, shaking and squeaking as it went.

After an hour or so, we reached the airport and I took my luggage, which was all in a backpack, and got off the bus along with the man. We both made our way to board our plane. Not much people were on the flight. There were a few flight attendants, a old man who was wrapped in a brown sweater, the man that was with me, myself, and a few more staff members.

I pulled out my iPod, which was in my backpack, and turned it on my playlist. I was happy that all necessary clothes and equipment would be provided on this trip. If not, I would never be on this plane. I could't Wait to get there. The start of the trip didn't start off to well, with the old rickety bus ride, and the rude man. 

My flight was quiet a long one though. First, we had to make our first stop at Buenos Aires, we're we will get our clothes and other stuff. Then, we will have to get a direct flight to Ushuaia, where the cruise ship will depart to Antarctica. After that, we will hike up to the camp and then have to climb down an icy cave, in which whatever we're seeing was found.

I sighed as the plane started to take off. After the slight turbulence, I laid my head back and soon drifted off to sleep. The plane would be landing soon, after I wake up.

                                                                                          ———-

I woke up when I felt someone shaking me. Rubbing my eyes, I straightened and was confused why the man I met was waking me up. "Come on, the plane landed early because of a storm" I looked around, noticing that most people were already off the plane. 

"Where are we, then?" I asked the man, confused. "We're at the Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport." I looked at him, shocked. "In Brazil?" He nodded. "Yeah. We got to go, come on." I got up out of my seat and followed him off the plane.

We both pushed through the large crowd that was outside, as we headed inside the airport. 

"You know the old man, from the plane?" 

 I nodded my head. "Yes, the one in the brown sweater." 

"Yes, well he turned out be our guide." Our guide? 

"What do you mean," I asked. 

"He is supposed to be the one who will pay for our clothing, equipment, food, and hotel rooms." 

"I guess that Dr. Newman guy thought of it all." I said, more to myself then the man." 

He smiled. "Yeah, I guess he did." 

Looking around, I wondered where the man was now. As if reading my thoughts, the man said, "He went to get us a hotel room. He said for us to meet here." 

As he said that, I spotted the old man waddling his way towards us. Once he reached us, he turned to me. "Nice to meet you! I'm Tom." He offered his hand to me and I took it.

"Okay. I've ordered us rooms at the Rio Areuporta Hotel. I also have rented a car we can use, so, shall we get going?" 

Me and the man looked at each other. Yes, Dr.Newman did think of everything. We followed Tom out of the airport into a small car. It looked like it only just fit us. 

Tom got into the driver's seat as we buckled up. After Tom buckled up also, he started to drive. In no time, we arrived at the hotel.

i studies the outside as we pulled in. Multiple flags were displayed in around the drive way. After Tom took care of the car, we walked in. "Wow," I said, surprised. The inside was tiled and shining, and calm music drifted through the lobby. 

A man in a black suit greeted us and gave us two keys. Tom took them and then turned back to us. 

"One room wil be for me, and then there will be another one for you two." He explained to us. I was hesitant top share a room with the man. I didn't even know him! Groaning inwardly, Tom led the way to our rooms. 

"Mine is just right across from you two's. So, knock if you need anything." With that, Tom unlocked his room and went inside. I picked up my bags and walked into ours. Two beds, with red and tan stripes on them, stood apart, separated by the length of two nightstands. 

Two abstract painting sat above each bed and one tv was positioned in a way, where, if a person sat on each bed, they would be able to see it perfectly.

I waited for the man to take a bed, before I did. I didn't want to come off as rude. The man set his stuff on the bed closest to the door, so I set my stuff on the side of the bed that was closest to the window. 

After I placed it, I noticed that the man was staring at me. I looked at him. "What?"

The man shook his head. "It's just that we don't even know each other's name, yet we are sharing a room already!" He laughed.

Approaching me, he held out his hand. "The name's Mark. Mark Hansen." 

I took his hand and shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you Mark! I'm James" After we shook hands, we both went to our beds to sleep. It already has been a long enough day.